Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-06-28
up ones life for a good cause, then how


ap ones life for u good cause, then how
exa ted 1t becomes. /
lit Is SAID that "ali our tragedies are
OF kings aud princes Dut is this true |?
Ia tragedy confined to high life? BY no
means. We may not hear SO much
about 1T but some OF the greatest TRACE
dies In the highest as we'll as the
lowest forms are constantly enacted by
the humolest and most Wretghed OF
earih's creatures.
Again We have another reflection. The |
stage is bright with the glare oil lights
and beautiful with scenery, the whole
play is IN keeping with gay music-in
other words--the opera, and how
changed is the cen Everything is SO
bright and gay, the music and scenery
so charming, that We are very apt to
forget there is any other side. Thus it
is in rea, life. There are some people
in the world whose whole lives seem
turned to delicious music which, to-
gelher with beautiful surroundings seem
to furnish everything to make lite's
happiness complete.
We see much of this in the SO. called
fashionable society but how much of its
brilliancy depends upon the footlights
of this world for it's effect. We are not
permitted to look behind the scenes.
One OF the most amusing parts and
one most frequently assumed off as we'll
as on the stage is hurlesque. 1t seems
to have always been q favorite role and
always been assumed in the past as in
the present, for does not the bible say,
"Ssrely every man walketh in a vain
show?" 1t certainly has its place and
uses for any folly may be preached
against by ministers, criticised by tEs
newspapers and still live, but let it be
attacked by ridionle and it banishes az if
by magic.
The person who takes the part of hero
in this drama does not always make the
most gallant or brave man in real life
and how many low and cowardly people
there are feignlnR the part of heroes in
this world, and ON the other hand as
many perhaps who might be heroes de-
scend to the meanest roles.
Many actors mistake the parts they
are fitted tor-thus they may undertake
to give comedy when they would make
good tragedians and what miserable
failures they make of their parts. Aud
so there are many people, in real life,
Il "1H - w ohAy a " \ PI6J lux p5L y
before the world that are very foreign to
thsir real natures while if we
could see them off the stage
with their masks laid aside
in the green-room OF their lives, we
would be much surprised to find how
different they are from the part they as
sumed, for some people imagine they
appear to an advantage, feigning q part
before the world that doesn't belong to
them.
We often speak OF a person as acting
the q Ii is perfectly evident to as
that his is q feigned part. Or we accuse
others OF playing the fool. Perhaps they
do not display sill their wisdom but al e
something like the kings jester in the
olden times, with his cap and bells, who
was often wiser than the king himself.
The soldier. who comes marching be-
fore us in splendid uniform with bright
buttons may be the most Grant coward,
the first to run behind the scenes.
And those who sing sGod save the
Queen" with SO much gusto before the
ipublic may be the first to turn against
that good sovereign and with the least
cause.
When we see a great tragedy. we
forget everything else in following the
hero or principal actor in the play. But
we cannot all have principal parts in
this world.
Every great person has his supporters
and every great movement its followers,
We must not despise the minor parts
The play cannot go on without them.
a battle is never won by great generals
alone, "Act we'll your part. there oil
your honor lies"
In the opera, as all great singers have
their ehoIuses SO we cannot all bs stars
There is only one Patti In the world and
very, very few have been en-
lowed with the wonderful gift that wins
for them such q high place. The majority
of us are only fit to appear once in q
while in the choruses, to keep pace with
the music and watch some leaders
baton.
AS the whole world now seems to be
ransaoked to fill the demand for new
dramas SO the worlds stage is ever wild
ening and more parts are waiting to be
taken especially by women
In Shakespeare time women were moi
allowed to appear on the stage ct al
but now they are acting their OWE
parts off as well as on the stage and tax.
ing them much better than they could
be performed by men.And if Shakespeare
were writing his dramas to-day ant
oharacterizing every people as he do
then, what part would they giyeAmericar
women? They might not be suited to
such o romantic role as many of his
gueens and Venetian ladies of rank bu.
doubtless they would be of more use in
the world.
His Merchant of Venice" would be
very characteristic of our times, for the
day has come when many an avericious
old shyiock will be out wittsd by some
fair Portia at the bar.
Aud is not our stage with its ver in
creasing opportunities, its rush and
hurry, q true reflection of our age:
Many object to the reflection and with
good cause, but is it not like o person
getting angry at his own image and
wanting to break the mirrow that re.
fleets it?
For we are all in one sense actors.
Shakespeare says "All the world. is a
stage and the men and women merely
players" And if the people in the future
ages look back upon our stage as cor
rupt we must blame the people. for they
make it what it is.
The dramas are written to please
them Just as the author studies to please
the public with his latest book.
Rather let its pat7one-society- be re.
formed and through 1T demand that the
theater be the high and lofty thing il
once was, and what it was intended to
be-one of the best schools and the best
place In the world, in which to study
human character.